CVE-2010-0003 in E1000
Summary
by MITRE
The print_fatal_signal function in kernel/signal.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.32.4 on the i386 platform, when print-fatal-signals is enabled, allows local users to discover the contents of arbitrary memory locations by jumping to an address and then reading a log file, and might allow local users to cause a denial of service (system slowdown or crash) by jumping to an address.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/29/2026
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-0003 represents a critical information disclosure and potential denial of service flaw within the Linux kernel's signal handling mechanism. This vulnerability specifically affects the print_fatal_signal function located in kernel/signal.c of Linux kernel versions prior to 2.6.32.4, and is confined to the i386 platform architecture. The issue arises from the kernel's handling of fatal signals when the print-fatal-signals kernel parameter is enabled, creating a pathway for malicious local users to exploit system memory contents through carefully crafted signal delivery mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory access controls within the kernel's signal processing code, which fails to properly sanitize memory addresses before attempting to log or display signal-related information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the kernel's signal delivery and logging infrastructure to create a memory disclosure attack vector. When a local user triggers a fatal signal with print-fatal-signals enabled, the kernel's print_fatal_signal function attempts to log information about the signal and the process that generated it. However, due to improper address validation, an attacker can manipulate the signal handler to jump to arbitrary memory addresses and subsequently read kernel log files that contain sensitive information from those memory locations. This mechanism effectively bypasses normal kernel memory protection boundaries, allowing unauthorized access to kernel memory contents that should remain protected from user-space processes. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the kernel level, where such information disclosure could reveal sensitive system information including kernel addresses, memory layouts, and potentially confidential data structures that could aid in further exploitation attempts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to encompass potential system stability threats. Local attackers can leverage this vulnerability to cause system slowdowns or even crashes through carefully constructed memory access patterns that trigger kernel memory corruption or resource exhaustion. The ability to read arbitrary memory locations provides attackers with valuable information about kernel memory layout, which can be used to facilitate more sophisticated attacks such as kernel exploit development or privilege escalation attempts. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with the attack technique category of information gathering and reconnaissance, which is often a precursor to more serious security breaches. The flaw demonstrates a weakness in kernel security model implementation, specifically in how kernel-space signal handling interacts with memory management and logging subsystems, potentially violating the principle of least privilege and information hiding that are fundamental to operating system security.
The security implications of CVE-2010-0003 align with CWE-200 (Information Exposure) and CWE-122 (Heap Overflow) categories, representing both information disclosure and potential memory corruption vulnerabilities. This vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1068 (Local Privilege Escalation) and T1005 (Data from Local System) within the MITRE ATT&CK framework, as it enables local users to access system information and potentially escalate privileges through memory manipulation. Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of their Linux kernel installations to version 2.6.32.4 or later, as this represents the official fix for the issue. System administrators should also consider disabling the print-fatal-signals parameter if it is not required for debugging purposes, as this reduces the attack surface. Additionally, monitoring for unusual kernel log patterns and implementing proper kernel memory protection mechanisms such as kernel page table isolation and address space layout randomization can help mitigate the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of rigorous input validation in kernel code and the critical need for maintaining up-to-date security patches to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities that could compromise system integrity and confidentiality.